In Mamprugu-Moagduri, one of the most remote and rural districts AfriKids works in, schools continue to face severe teacher shortages.
At one school, more than 300 children across kindergarten, primary and junior high school had been relying on just one teacher. Classrooms were overcrowded, attendance was low, and some children were reaching upper primary school without confidently recognising the alphabet.
What stood out the most was not the challenge itself, but the way the community responded.
Adam, a 40-year-old father of four and local farmer, stepped forward to help. He experienced the impact the lack of teachers was having on children in his village, including his own. Wanting to make a difference, he made the life-changing decision to dedicate himself to teaching.
(Pictured: Adam with some of his students)
Although Adam wasn’t a trained teacher, he had completed senior high school and felt called to use his education and skills in whatever way he could to support the children in his community.
Adam said:
“Due to the lack of teachers in the school, I took it upon myself to offer a helping hand. My prayer and hopes are that these young children will grow up to be great leaders, which will help end poverty in the community.”
Today, Adam teaches more than 85 upper primary pupils and covers all eight subjects himself. Despite the enormous workload, he’s determined to help children build the foundational skills and confidence they need to thrive.
But Adam couldn’t do this alone.
Recognising the importance of education, families in his village came together to support Adam and help him provide for his own family so he could continue teaching. Community members also committed to providing accommodation for teachers coming from outside the area, removing one of the biggest barriers to attracting support to remote schools.
“Parents understand the importance of education and they want the best for their children.” Adam said.
What we see consistently throughout our work is that meaningful change only happens when everyone plays a role. That’s why AfriKids is committed to equipping and bringing together families, local leaders, schools and communities- strengthening the support systems around a child’s learning so every child has the chance to reach their full potential.
Over the next two years, we’re going to be testing and refining this approach under an exciting new pilot programme called RISE UP.
You can find out more about Rise Up here
Thank you for being part of the community that makes stories like this possible. Your support is helping communities invest in their children’s futures so more young people can stay in school, learn, and build a brighter future.
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